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Flora Teckie

A Bahaí Perspective

The efforts we make in order to conform to the laws and teachings of God should be a necessary consequence of our belief in Him and it is natural that our belief in God would be translated into noble actions.

Otherwise, one would question what it means to have faith if it is not consciously manifested in our actions and in our relationships with others? 

We all praise and admire good deeds and would like to be treated well by others. But to recognise what is moral and ethical is not enough. This knowledge must be put into action. 

There is a common view that one can attain to salvation through belief alone. 

The Bahá’í Writings state that: “the foundation of success and salvation is the knowledge of God, and that the results of the knowledge of God are the good actions which are the fruits of faith”. 

Our behaviours are the expression of our capacity to choose and make decisions. We have the choice between justice and injustice and the power both to do good and not. 

Therefore, we are responsible for our actions. 

The physical or spiritual capacities with which God has endowed us are potentially helpful for our full, purposeful, and proper development. 

However, because we have free will, there is also the potential for the misuse of both physical and spiritual capacities. At the same time, it is through the freedom of choice that we have the liberty to participate actively in the process of our own development. 

Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, says: “The essence of faith is fewness of words and abundance of deeds” and “let your acts be a guide unto all mankind, for the professions of most men, be they high or low, differ from their conduct. 

It is through your deeds that ye can distinguish yourselves from others. 

Through them the brightness of your light can be shed upon the whole earth”. 

Need for an ongoing effort to refine our conduct

One of the main causes of unhappiness, social conflict and crises in our world today is because humanity has turned away from moral and spiritual principles given to us through religion. 

The development of spiritual qualities, in the Bahá’í view, is central to our spiritual life and will assist us in our eternal journey towards God. The cultivation of such qualities is achievable thorough an ongoing effort to refine our conduct. 

Our heart can be compared to a mirror that is capable of reflecting spiritual qualities and manifesting divine attributes. 

The same way as a mirror needs to be cleansed from the dust before it can reflect the rays of the sun, the mirror of our heart needs to be cleansed from harmful passions and desires, such as envy, hatred and malice, that hinder our spiritual development and growth. Furthermore, a moral person can be defined as a social actor, who, having effected change in himself or herself, also feels the responsibility of contributing towards the transformation of the social order. 

Spiritual advancement is vital to our well-being in this life and the next

The responsibility for our spiritual growth rests with each one of us. 

We all have the capacity to override the needs of our lower nature in keeping with ethical requirements. 

We also have the capacity to control and channel our natural drives and urges and to transform them into human perfections — remembering that, our moral and spiritual advancement is crucial to our well-being in both this life and the next. 

As Bahá’u’lláh says: “Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and everlasting”. 

No one walking in the spiritual path, of course, may make a claim to perfection. But through a daily effort we can progressively reflect in our conduct the teachings of God, no matter how difficult to attain they may seem to be. 

As Bahá’u’lláh counsels: “Let each morn be better than its eve and each morrow richer than its yesterday”. 

“Let your eye be chaste,” is yet another counsel from Bahá’u’lláh, “your hand faithful, your tongue truthful, and your heart enlightened.” 

“Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue.” 

“Beware . . . lest ye walk in the ways of them whose words differ from their deeds.” 

Cultivation of our lives’ spiritual sides have several benefits. 

First, we increasingly develop those innate qualities that lie at the foundation of human happiness and social progress. Such qualities include faith, courage, love, compassion, trustworthiness and humility. As these qualities are increasingly manifest, not only the individual but also society as a whole, advances. 

For feedback please contact: [email protected] or [email protected]. 

Website: www.bahai.org.